Fan module with multiple cooling fans

ABSTRACT

An exemplary fan module includes a first mounting frame, a first cooling fan mounted on the first mounting frame, a second mounting frame and a second cooling fan mounted on the second mounting frame. One of the first mounting frame and the second mounting frame defines a latching hole. The other one of the first mounting frame and the second mounting frame forms a hook engagable with the latching hole. The first mounting frame and the second mounting frame are rotatably connected to make the first cooling fan and the second cooling fan arranged in parallel or in series.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure generally relates to device cooling, and particularly to a fan module with a plurality of cooling fans.

2. Description of Related Art

Often, a cooling fan is used in a computer to dissipate heat from a Central Processing Unit (CPU) of the computer. On the other hand, the computer system often needs to handle a variety of tasks by changing the CPU for a more powerful one, or expanding via a plurality of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) cards which generate a large amount of heat which need to be dissipated.

As an amount of the airflow provided by the cooling fan is finite, a single cooling fan is no longer sufficient to timely remove the heat from the more powerful CPU which generates more heat. In addition, an area for the cooling fan airflow passage is also finite, thus the cooling fan can not dissipate heat sufficiently from the CPU and the PCI cards simultaneously. Furthermore, the computer does not form any additional mounting structure for the expansion of cooling capacity via adding another cooling fan to meet a variety of requirements for the computer.

What is needed, therefore, is a fan module which can overcome the above described limitations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an assembled, isometric view of a fan module in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the fan module of FIG. 1, including a first mounting frame and a second mounting frame.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the first mounting frame of the fan module of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the second mounting frame of the fan module of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 2, but showing the fan module in another operating state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a fan module 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure is shown. The fan module 100 includes a first mounting frame 10, a first cooling fan 20 mounted on the first mounting frame 10, a second mounting frame 30, and a second cooling fan 40 mounted on the second mounting frame 30. The first mounting frame 10 and the second mounting frame 30 are located adjacent to one another and in parallel. A right side of the first mounting frame 10 is pivotally connected to a left side of the second mounting frame 30 by a shaft 50. The shaft 50 is elongated and rod-shaped.

The first cooling fan 20 and the second cooling fan 40 are the same. Each of the cooling fans 20 and 40 includes a fan housing 22 and a rotor 24 for generating a forced airflow. The fan housing 22 is square-shaped and hollow. The rotor 24 is rotatably received in the fan housing 22. A rear side of the fan housing 22 defines an air inlet 27 for the forced airflow to flow into the fan housing 22, and a front side of the fan housing 22 defines an air outlet 28 for the forced airflow to flow out of the fan housing 22. A passage 220 is defined between the inner surface of the fan housing 22 and the rotor 24 for allowing the forced airflow flowing therethrough. The fan housing 22 defines four mounting holes 222 at four corners surrounding the air inlet 27 respectively, and defines four mounting holes 222 at four corners surrounding the air outlet 28, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 3, the first mounting frame 10 includes a square main body 12, a latching flange 14 extending frontward from a left side of the main body 12, two spaced fixing tabs 16 extending rearward from a right side of the main body 12, and a connecting portion 18 extending outwardly from the right side of the main body 12 and located between the fixing tabs 16. In this embodiment, both of the latching flange 14 and the fixing tabs 16 perpendicularly intersect the main body 12, respectively.

The main body 12 of the first mounting frame 10 is in the form of a flat plate. The main body 12 defines a through hole 120 at a central area thereof corresponding to the air outlet 28 of the first cooling fan 20. The through hole 120 has a diameter substantially equal to that of the air outlet 28 of the first cooling fan 20. The main body 12 defines four fixing holes 122 corresponding to the mounting holes 222 of the first cooling fan 20, respectively.

The fixing tabs 16 are respectively located adjacent to the top and bottom ends of the main body 12. Each of the fixing tabs 16 is substantially square. Each fixing tab 16 forms a first hook 162 at a distal end thereof.

The latching flange 14 is rectangular and elongated. The latching flange 14 extends along the left side of the main body 12. Two spaced second hooks 142 are formed on the latching flange 14. The second hooks 142 are respectively located adjacent to the top and bottom ends of the latching flange 14.

The connecting portion 18 is elongated and column-shaped. The connecting portion 18 extends along the right edge of the main body 12. The connecting portion 18 defines an axial hole 180 therethrough along a lengthwise direction thereof for allowing the shaft 50 to extend through. A cross section of the connecting portion 18 is substantially C-shaped in this embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the second mounting frame 30 includes a square main body 32, a fixing flange 34 extending rearward from a right side of the main body 32, two spaced latching plates 36 extending rearward from a left side of the main body 32, and two spaced fixing portions 38 extending outwardly from the left side of the main body 32.

The main body 32 of the second mounting frame 30 is also in the form of a square flat plate. The main body 32 defines an opening 320 at a central area corresponding to the air outlet 28 of the second cooling fan 40. Four corners of the main body 32 each define a fixing hole 322 corresponding to the mounting holes 222.

Each of the latching plates 36 is substantially square-shaped. The latching plates 36 each define a first latching hole 360 corresponding to the first hook 162 of one fixing tab 16 of the first mounting frame 10.

The fixing flange 34 is rectangular and elongated. The fixing flange 34 extends along the right side of the main body 32. The fixing flange 34 defines two spaced second latching holes 340 corresponding to the second hooks 142 of the latching flange 14 of the first mounting frame 10, respectively. Each of the second latching holes 340 is rectangular. In this embodiment, the fixing flange 34 is perpendicular to the main body 32.

The fixing portions 38 are spaced from each other. A distance between the fixing portions 38 is slightly larger than a length of the connecting portion 18. Each of the fixing portions 38 defines a pivotal hole 380 therethrough. The pivotal holes 380 of the fixing portions 38 are aligned for allowing the shaft 50 to extend through. In this embodiment, a cross section of each fixing portion 38 is substantially C-shaped.

In assembly, the first mounting frame 10 and the second mounting frame 30 are arranged adjacent to one another and in parallel. The first hooks 162 of the first mounting frame 10 hook or engage in the first latching holes 360 of the latching plates 36, respectively. At the same time, the connecting portion 18 of the first mounting frame 10 is located between the fixing portions 38 of the second mounting frame 30, with the axial hole 180 of the connecting portion 18 aligned with the pivotal holes 380 of the fixing portions 38. The shaft 50 extends through the pivotal hole 380 of one upper fixing portion 38, the axial hole 180 of the connecting portion 18, and the pivotal hole 380 of the other fixing portion 38 sequentially, to thereby pivotally connect the first mounting frame 10 and the second mounting frame 30. Therefore, the first mounting frame 10 is rotatable relative to the second mounting frame 30.

The first cooling fan 20 is arranged at a rear side of the first mounting frame 10, with the air outlet 28 of the first cooling fan 20 aligned with the through hole 120 of the first mounting frame 10. Four mounting holes 222 of the first cooling fan 20 are respectively aligned with the four fixing holes 122 of the first mounting frame 10. Then, four fasteners 60, such as screws, are provided to extend through the fixing holes 122 of the first mounting frame 10 and engage with the mounting holes 222 of the first cooling fan 20, thereby fixing the first cooling fan 20 on the first mounting frame 10. The second cooling fan 40 is fixed on the second mounting frame 30 by the same method as the first cooling fan 20.

As the first mounting frame 10 is connected with the second mounting frame 30, the first cooling fan 20 mounted on the first mounting frame 10 and the second cooling fan 40 mounted on the second mounting frame 30 are thus connected together. That is, the number of the cooling fans 20, 40 of the fan module 100 is expanded by the first mounting frame 10 and the second mounting frame 30.

In addition, in such a state, the first cooling fan 20 and the second cooling fan 40 are located adjacent to one another and in parallel, and the orientations of the air outlets 28 of the first cooling fan 20 and the second cooling fan 40 are adjacent to one another and parallel. Therefore, an airflow area produced by the first cooling fan 20 and the second cooling fan 40 is larger than that of the airflow area produced by one cooling fan 20 or 40 alone, such that the fan module 100 can efficiently and timely remove heat from the CPU and the PCI cards simultaneously.

Referring to FIG. 5, as the first mounting frame 10 is pivotally connected with the second mounting frame 30, the first mounting frame 10 can be rotated relative to the second mounting frame 30, and thus a location relationship between the first cooling fan 20 and the second cooling fan 40 can be changed to meet different requirements of heat dissipation of the computer. For example, if the heat generated by the CPU is too large that the airflow produced by one cooling fan 20 or 40 alone can not remove the heat in time, the first mounting frame 10 can be rotated relative to the second mounting frame 30 to make the first cooling fan 20 and the second cooling fan 40 arranged in series, thereby enhancing airflow speed, and thus removing heat of the CPU more quickly.

When the first mounting frame 10 is rotated relative to the second mounting frame 30, the left side of the first mounting frame 10 moves towards the right side of the second mounting frame 30. The first hooks 162 of the first mounting frame 10 then depart from the first latching holes 360 of the second mounting frame 30. After the first mounting frame 10 is rotated by slightly less than 180°, the main body 12 of the first mounting frame 10 faces the main body 32 of the second mounting frame 30. The second hooks 142 of the latching flange 14 of the first mounting frame 10 touch the fixing flange 34 of the second mounting frame 30.

Then the first mounting frame 10 is further pushed towards the second mounting frame 30, to make the second hooks 142 hook or engage in the second latching holes 340 of the fixing flanges 34 of the second mounting frame 30. In such an operating state, the first mounting frame 10 overlaps the second mounting frame 30. The first cooling fan 20 and the second cooling fan 40 are arranged in series. Air outlets 28 of the first cooling fan 20 and the second cooling fan 40 are aligned.

It is worthwhile to note that, when the first cooling fan 20 and the second cooling fan 40 are arranged in parallel, the directions of the airflow of the first cooling fan 20 and the second cooling fan 40 are the same. After the cooling fan 20 has been directly rotated to be arranged in series with the second cooling fan 40, the air outlets of the first cooling fan 20 and the second cooling fan 40 face each other, and the orientations of the air outlets 28 of the first cooling fan 20 and the second cooling fan 40 are opposite to each other.

Thus, the first cooling fan 20 should be disassembled from the first mounting frame 10 and be reversely remounted on the first mounting frame 10 before the first mounting frame 10 has been rotated towards the second mounting frame 30, with the air inlet 27 of the first cooling fan 20 located closer to the main body 12 of the first mounting frame 10 than the air outlet 28 of the first cooling fan 20. Therefore, after the first mounting frame 10 has been rotated to overlap the second mounting frame 30 to make the first cooling fan 20 and the second cooling fan 40 arranged in series, the air inlet 27 of the first cooling fan 20 faces the air outlet 28 of the second cooling fan 40. Thus, airflow of the first cooling fan 20 and the second cooling fan 40 flows along a same direction, and the airflow speed flowing to the CPU is increased, accordingly.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of certain embodiment(s) have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A fan module, comprising: a first mounting frame; a first cooling fan mounted on the first mounting frame; a second mounting frame; and a second cooling fan mounted on the second mounting frame; wherein one of the first mounting frame and the second mounting frame defines a first latching hole, the other one of the first mounting frame and the second mounting frame forms a first hook engagable with the first latching hole, and the first mounting frame and the second mounting frame are connected together to make the first cooling fan and the second cooling fan arranged in parallel or in series.
 2. The fan module of claim 1, wherein the first mounting frame faces the second mounting frame, and the first cooling fan and the second cooling fan are arranged in series.
 3. The fan module of claim 1, wherein the first mounting frame and the second mounting frame are located adjacent to one another and in parallel, and the first cooling fan and the second cooling fan are arranged in parallel.
 4. The fan module of claim 3, further comprising a shaft, wherein a first side of the first mounting frame adjacent to the second mounting frame forms a connecting portion with an axial hole defined therethrough, a first side of the second mounting frame adjacent to the first mounting frame forms a fixing portion with a pivotal hole defined therethrough, and the shaft extends through the connecting portion and the fixing portion, thereby pivotally connecting the first mounting frame to the second mounting frame.
 5. The fan module of claim 4, wherein the first hook is formed on the first side of the first mounting frame, and the first latching hole is defined in the first side of the second mounting frame.
 6. The fan module of claim 5, wherein after the first mounting frame has been rotated with respect to the second mounting frame, the first hook of the first mounting frame departs from the first latching hole of the second mounting frame.
 7. The fan module of claim 6, wherein the second mounting frame defines a second latching hole in a second side of the second mounting frame, and a second side of the first mounting frame forms a second hook engagable with the second latching hole of the second mounting frame, after the first mounting frame has been rotated to face the second mounting frame, the second hook of the first mounting frame engages in the second latching hole of the second mounting frame, and the first cooling fan and the second cooling fan are arranged in series.
 8. The fan module of claim 5, wherein the first mounting frame comprises a main body, the main body with a through hole defined therein, a fixing tab extending rearward from the first side of the main body of the first mounting frame, and the first hook is formed at a distal end of the fixing tab of the first mounting frame.
 9. The fan module of claim 8, wherein the second mounting frame comprises a main body, the main body with an opening defined therein, a latching plate extending rearward from the first side of the main body of the second mounting frame, and the first latching hole is defined in the latching plate of the second mounting frame.
 10. The fan module of claim 9, wherein the first mounting frame further comprises a latching flange extending frontward from a second side of the main body, the latching flange forms a second hook thereof, the second mounting frame comprises a fixing flange extending rearward from a second side of the main body, the fixing flange defines a second latching hole therein, the second hook of the first mounting frame engages in the second latching hole of the second mounting frame, and the first cooling fan and the second cooling fan are arranged in series.
 11. A fan module, comprising: a first mounting frame; a first cooling fan mounted on the first mounting frame; a second mounting frame; and a second cooling fan mounted on the second mounting frame; wherein one side of the first mounting frame is pivotally connected with an adjacent side of the second mounting frame, such that the first mounting frame is rotatable relative to the second mounting frame, and a location relationship between the first cooling fan and the second cooling fan is changeable so as to change between series connection and parallel connection thereof by rotating the first mounting frame with respect to the second mounting frame.
 12. The fan module of claim 11, further comprising a shaft, wherein the first mounting frame comprises a connecting portion with an axial hole defined therethrough, the second mounting frame comprises a fixing portion with a pivotal hole defined therethrough, and the shaft extends through the connecting portion of the first mounting frame and the fixing portion of the second mounting frame, thereby pivotally connecting the first mounting frame to the second mounting frame.
 13. The fan module of claim 11, wherein a first side of the first mounting frame adjacent to the second mounting frame forms a first hook, a first side of the second mounting frame adjacent to the first mounting frame defines a first latching hole, the first hook of the first mounting frame engages in the first latching hole of the second mounting frame, and the first cooling fan and the second cooling fan are arranged in parallel.
 14. The fan module of claim 13, wherein a second side of the first mounting frame forms a second hook, a second side of the second mounting frame defines a second latching hole, the second hook of the first mounting frame engages in the second latching hole of the second mounting frame, and the first cooling fan and the second cooling fan are arranged in series.
 15. The fan module of claim 14, wherein the first mounting frame comprises a main body, the main body with a through hole defined therein, a fixing tab extending rearward from the first side of the main body, and the first hook is formed at a distal end of the fixing tab of the first mounting frame.
 16. The fan module of claim 15, wherein the first mounting frame further comprises a latching flange extending frontward from the second side of the main body, the second hook of the first mounting frame is formed on the latching flange.
 17. The fan module of claim 14, wherein the second mounting frame comprises a main body, the main body with an opening defined therein, a latching plate extending rearward from the first side of the main body, and the first latching hole is defined in the latching plate of the second mounting frame.
 18. The fan module of claim 17, wherein the second mounting frame further comprises a fixing flange extending rearward from the second side of the main body, and the second latching hole is defined in the fixing flange.
 19. The fan module of claim 11, wherein the first mounting frame comprises a main body, and two fixing tabs extending from one side of the main body of the first mounting frame adjacent to the second mounting frame, each of the fixing tabs forms a first hook, the second mounting frame comprises a main body, and two latching plates extending from one side of the main body of the second mounting frame adjacent to the first mounting frame, each of the latching plates defines a first latching hole, the first cooling fan and the second cooling fan are arranged in parallel, and the first hooks of the first mounting frame engages in the first latching holes of the second mounting frame.
 20. The fan module of claim 19, wherein the first mounting frame further comprises a latching flange extending from a second side of the main body, the latching flange forms two second hooks, the second mounting frame further comprises a fixing flange, the fixing flange defines two second latching holes, the second hooks of the first mounting frame engage in the second latching holes of the second mounting frame, and the first cooling fan and the second cooling fan are arranged in series. 